Apparatus for slitting sheet material

ABSTRACT

A plate having a supporting surface and a depending edge supports sheet material which is fed and slit concomitantly by a rotary slitter having an annular cutting edge defined by a beveled surface tapering toward and intersecting a flat surface extending at right angles to said supporting surface with the included angle between the beveled surface and said flat surface being approximately 30*. The flat surface of the slitter is in closely spaced relation to said depending edge and the lower portion of the cutting edge is at an elevation subjacent the supporting surface.

United States Patent 11 1 Stafford I 1 Feb. 11, 1975 1 APPARATUS FOR SLITTING SHEET MATERIAL Eugene T. Stafford, Birmingham, Ala.

Dixie Type and Supply Co., Birmingham, Ala.

Filed: Feb. 21, 1973 Appl. No.: 334,282

Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

US. Cl 83/121, 83/430, 83/449, 83/477.2, 83/504 Int. Cl B26d 3/12 Field of Search 83/477.2, 471, 508, 469, 83/430, 449, 121, 122, 504, 499

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1885 Bridgman 83/499' 5/1921 Trogner 83/471 X 8/1926 Weiners 83/430 X 9/1927 Munroe 83/508 X 2/1950 Rachels 83/471 X 3,518,913 7/1970 Fountain, Jr 83/430 X 3,595,114 7/1971 Osborn 83/504 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 13.989 11/1903 Austria 83/504 Primary Examiner-J. M. Meister Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jennings, Carter &

Thompson [57] ABSTRACT A plate having a supporting surface and a depending edge supports sheet material which is fed and slit concomitantly by a rotary slitter having an annular cutting edge defined by a beveled surface tapering toward and intersecting a flat surface extending at right angles to said supporting surface with the included angle between' the beveled surface and said flat surface being approximately 30. The flat surface of the slitter is in closely spaced relation to said depending edge and the lower portion of the cutting edge is at an elevation subjacent the supporting surface.

1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures .I II

PATENTED FEB] I 1975 sum 10F '2 APPARATUS FOR SLITTING SHEET MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for slitting sheet material and more particularly to apparatus for trim- 'ming paper on each side of a type column, such as a newspaper column whereby a predetermined margin is left on each side of the column.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, considerable changes have taken place in the printing industry. These changes have been so rapid that many new developments far outstrip the ability of an individual to keep up with the production of new computerized phototypesetting. For example, Hot Type produced on the Linotype machine was first pro-' duced at a rate of six to eight lines per minute, whereas the introduction of punched tape operated machines started off at ten times that speed and now there are many machines that are over a hundred times as fast. In placing the photographic image on photographic paper in justified lines, the paper is usually made in even sizes, such as 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and inches in width. The average newspaper column is approximately 1.826 inches whereby it is necessary to trim the column out of whatever size paper was first used for the exposure and then paste the column up to make up the newspaper. This has usually been accomplished by employing a straight edge and a razor blade or a pair of scissors or shears. Accordingly, this not only requires a considerable amount of time and effort to trim the edges of the column but it is also very difficult to trim the column accurately whereby it is an exact, predetermined size.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with my invention, a plate having a supporting surface and a depending edge supports the sheet material which is fed and slit concomitantly by a rotary slitter. An annular cutting edge is provided on the slitter which is defined by a beveled surface which tapers toward and intersects a flat surface extending at right angles to the supporting surface with the included angle between the beveled surface and the flat surface being approximately 30. The flat surface of the slitter is mounted in closely spaced relation to the depending edge with the lower portion of the cutting edge at an elevation subjacent the supporting surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmental view showing the manner in which the supporting shaft for the slitters is supported for rotation at the left side of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

' FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmental, sectional view showing the manner in which the supporting shaft for the rotary slitters is mounted at the righthand side of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmental view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmental view taken gener- DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings for a betterunderstanding of my invention, I show a supporting frame 10 having upstanding end walls 11 and upstanding side walls 12. Suitable brace members 13 extend between the end walls 11, as shown in FIG. 2 to add strength to the supporting frame 10. A top wall 14 is secured to the uppermost members 13 by suitable retaining elements 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the end walls 11 extend to an elevation above the side walls 12 and top wall 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, bearing sleeve members 17 are mounted in openings 18 through the upstanding portions of the end walls 11. Mounted for rotation within the bearing sleeve members 17 is an elongated, hollow supporting shaft l9-which is secured mon-rotatably to a retaining ring 21 and a collar 22 adjacent one end thereof by pin-like members 23, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The other end of the supporting shaft 19 is secured non-rotatably to a retaining ring 24 and a collar 26 by pin-like members 27, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the outer surface of the collar 26 is knurled to provide a knob for rotating the supporting shaft 19.

Mounted for rotation within and extending axially of the hollow supporting shaft 19 is an inner shaft 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the inner shaft 28 extends through the collars 22 and 26 whereby the collars 22 and 26 form bearings for the inner shaft 28. The intermediate portion of the inner shaft 28 is provided with external threads 29 and the end thereof projecting outwardly of the collar 26 is threaded externally as at 31 for receiving a retaining nut 32. The end of the inner shaft 28 projecting outwardly of the collar 22 is secured nonrotatably to an actuating knob 33 by means of a suitable pin 34. Preferably, the outer surface of the knob 33 is knurled, as shown in FIG. 1.

Mounted non-rotatably on the supporting shaft 19 is a pulley 36 which is operatively connected by a belt 37 to a pulley 38 mounted on the shaft 39 of an electric motor 41. A supporting bracket 42 is secured to the motor housing by retaining members 43 and is secured to the undersurface of the top plate 14 by a retaining bolt 44 and nut 46 whereby the motor 41 is supported,

as shown in FIG. 2.

Mounted non-rotatably on the supporting shaft 19 by means of a suitable set screw 47 is a rotary slitter 48 having an annular cutting edge 49 at the periphery thereof defined by a beveled surface 51 which tapers toward and intersects a flat surface 52 which extends at right angles to the supporting shaft 19 with the included angle between the beveled surface 51 and the flat surface 52 being approximately 30, as shown in FIG. 8. The set screw 47 permits the rotary slitter48 to be moved to selected positions axially of the supporting shaft 19 whereby it may be set accurately in a selected position.

Mounted on the top plate 14 by suitable retaining elements 53 is an elongated guide bar 54 which extends parallel to and beneath the supporting shaft 19. Extending across the guide bar 54 is a plate 56 having an upper supporting surface 57 and a depending edge 58 which extends to an elevation below the supporting surface 57, as shown in FIG. 2. A suitable downwardly opening recess is provided in the undersurface of the plate 56 for receiving the elongated guide bar 54 whereby the ends of the plate 56 outwardly of the guide bar 54 engage the upper surface of the top plate 14. The plate 56 is secured to the guide bar 54 and top plate 14 by a retainer element 59.

Mounted for sliding movement along the hollow supporting shaft 19 in spaced relation to the rotary slitter 48 is an elongated sleeve-like member 61 which may be formed of a plastic material. Secured to one end of the sleeve-like member 61 is a rotary slitter 48a having an annular cutting edge 49a at the periphery thereof defined by a beveled surface 51a which intersects a flat surface 52a which extends at right angles to the supporting shaft 19 and top plate 14 with the included angle between the beveled surface and the flat surface being approximately 30. The rotary slitter 48a is secured to the end of the sleeve member 61 by suitable retaining screws 62.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an elongated slot 63 is provided through one side of the hollow supporting shaft 19 with the slot extending axially of the supporting shaft. An internally threaded opening 64 is provided in the sleeve member 61 for receiving an externally threaded member 66 having an inwardly projecting end portion which extends through the elongated slot 63 and engages a suitable recess in a member 66a. lnwardly extending projections are carried by the mem ber 66a in position to extend between the threads 29 on the inner shaft 28 so that upon relative 'rotation of the inner shaft 28 and the supporting shaft 19 the sleevelike member 61 and the rotary slitter 48a carried thereby is moved axially along the supporting shaft 19. Accordingly, upon rotating the knob 33, the inner shaft 28 is rotated relative to the supporting shaft 19 whereby the external threads 29 move the inwardly extending projections on the member 66a axially of the shaft 28 whereby the sleeve-like member 61 is moved axially to selected positions. By providing threads 29 which are spaced from each other to provide approximately five threads per inch, there is no relative movement between the inner shaft 28 and the outer supporting shaft 19 unless the inner shaft 28 is rotated or is held against rotation and knob 26 is rotated to thus rotate the outer shaft 19 relative to the inner shaft 28 which is held stationary. That is, rotation of the outer hollow shaft 19 also imparts rotation to the inner shaft 28 unless the inner shaft 28 is held stationary by the knob 33.

A plate 56a having an upper supporting surface 57a and a depending edge 58a extends across and is adapted for sliding movement relative to the guide bar 54. A downwardly opening slot 67 is provided in the under surface of the plate 56a for receiving the elongated guide bar 54, as shown in FIG. 3. Secured to the plate 56a by retaining screws 68 is an L-shaped bracket 69 having upstanding spaced apart bearing members 71 and 72 which are adapted to ride at opposite sides of an annular member 73 projecting radially from the outer surface of the sleeve member 61, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Accordingly, the plate 56a moves with the sleeve member 61 as it moves axially to selected positions along the supporting shaft 19.

The lower portion of each cutting edge 49 and 49a extends to an elevation below the supporting surface 57 or 57a, as the case may be, ranging from approximately one sixty-fourth inch to one-sixteenth inch. Preferably, the lower portion of each cutting edge extends to an elevation of approximately one thirty-second inch below the supporting surface. Preferably, the depending edge portions 58 and 58a extend at right angles to the supporting surface 57 and 57a. As shown in FIG. 2, the flat surface 52 or 52a, as the case may be, of each slitter extends at right angles to the supporting surfaces 57 and 57a and is spaced from the adjacent depending edge 58 or 58a, as the case may be a distance ranging from approximately 0.001 inch to 0.005 inch. Preferably, the flat surface 52 or 52a is spaced from the adjacent depending edge a distance of approximately 0.003 inch.

A second elongated guide bar 74 is secured to the top plate 14 and extends parallel to the guide bar 54, as shown in FIG. 1. Extending across the guide bar 74 is a movable guide plate 76 having a depending recess 77 therein of a size to receive the guide bar 74 with a sliding fit, as shown in FIG. 7. Accordingly, the guide plate 76 is adapted for movement along the guide bar 74 to selected positions. As shown in FIG. 1, the top plate 14 is provided with an outwardly projecting portion 78 having an elongated slot 780 therein. Extending through the elongated slot 780 is a thumb screw 79 which is in threaded engagement with an internally threaded opening 81 provided in the guide plate 76. By releasing the thumb screw 79, the guide plate 76 may be moved to selected positions and then locked in position.

As shown in FIG. 1, stationary guide members 82 and 83 are provided at opposite sides of the guide plate 76 for receiving a sheet of paper of a width to engage the inner surface of the guide members 82 and 83. Intermediate, upwardly opening recesses 84 are provided in the upper surface of the guide plate 76 for receiving removable guide members 86 whereby sheets of paper of various widths may be inserted between the adjacent guide members. That is, the elongated guide member 86 is adapted to move to selected grooves 84 to thus vary the distance between the guide member 82 and the guide member 86. The receiving ends of the elongated guide members 82, 83 and 86 are inclined inwardly in the direction of flow of the paper as at 87 to facilitate movement of the paper into the space between adjacent guide members.

Secured to the top plate 14 adjacent the guide member 82 is a laterally projecting bracket 88 which terminates in an inwardly projecting point 89 which is in alignment with the annular cutting edge 49 of the rotary slitter 48, as shown in FIG. 1. The point 89 thus serves as a reference to indicate the line along which the sheet of material is to be cut upon reaching the rotary slitter 48.

Secured to the top plate 14 are laterally spaced support brackets 91 which support a transparent stripper member 92 having a slot therein for receiving the lower portion of the rotary slitter 48 whereby the material being cut moves beneath the stripper member and away from the rotary slitter 48 so that the sheet of material is separated continuously from the rotary slitter. A stripper member 93 is carried by the movable support plate 56a and extends over and in parallel spaced relation to the upper surface of the supporting plate 56a, as shown in FIG. 2 to provide a space therebetween for receiving the sheet of material to be slit. A suitable recess is provided in the stripper member 93 for receiving the rotary slitter 48a, as shown in FIG. 2.

The stripper member 93 thus directs the sheet of material therebeneath whereby it is continuously separated from the rotary slitter 48a.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved apparatus will be readily understood. The movable guide member 86 is moved to the proper recess 84 or is removed whereby the sheet of material moves between the guide members 82 and 83. That is, the spaced apart guide members are of a distance to receive therebetween the sheet of material to be slit with the point 89 extending along the line where the slit is to be made by the rotary slitter 48. The rotary slitter 48a is adjusted to a predetermined position by rotating the knob 33. Since the plate 56a and the stripper member 93 move with the rotary slitter 480, the edge 58a is always at the proper position relative to the cutting edge of the rotary slitter 48a. Since the rotary slitters 48 and 48a are out of contact with the adjacent depending edges 58 and 58a, there is no engagement of the rotary slitters with the adjacent edges of the supporting plates. Upon engagement of the slitters 48 and 48a with the sheet of material, the sheet of material is cut and fed concomitantly, thus eliminating the necessity of providing additional feed means for the sheet of material. For a rotary slitter approximately 2 /2 inches in diameter, the slitter is driven at a speed of approximately 950 revolutions per minute. As the sheet of material is fed and cut by the rotary slitters 48 and 48a, the sheet of material passes beneath the stripper members 92 and 93 whereby the sheet is separated continuously from the rotary slitters.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that l have devised improved apparatus for slitting sheet material, such as paper. By providing the rotary slitter having an annular cutting edge defined by a beveled surface tapering toward and intersecting a flat surface which extends at right angles to the supporting surface with the included angle between the beveled surface and the flat surface being approximately 30, my improved slitter is adapted to feed and cut the paper concomitantly without the necessity of additional feed means. By providing a depending edge portion on the supporting plate which is in spaced relation to the rotary slitter, I not only provide a rotary slitter which feeds and cuts the paper but also reduce the wear of the rotary slitter due to the fact that there is no engagement of the slitter with the adjacent supporting plate for the material being slit. Furthermore, by providing stripper members in position to direct the paper therebeneath and away from the rotary slitters, the slit paper is separated continuously from the rotary slitters.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. ln apparatus for slitting sheet material comprising:

a. separate plates each having an upper supporting surface and a depending edge portion extending to an elevation below said supporting surface with said depending edge portion of one said plate being spaced laterally from said depending edge portion of the other said plate,

b. a hollow supporting shaft,

c. at least two laterally spaced rotary slitters mounted for rotation with said hollow supporting shaft alongside the laterally spaced depending edge portions with each rotary slitter having an annular cutting edge at the periphery thereof defined by a beveled surface tapering toward and intersecting a flat surface which extends at right angles to said supporting surface with the included angle between said beveled surface and said flat surface being approximately 30,

d. each said rotary slitter being supported for rotation with said flat surface spaced from said depending edge a distance ranging from approximately000l inch to 0.005 inch and with the lower portion of said cutting edge at an elevation ranging from approximately one sixty-fourth inch to one-sixteenth inch below said supporting surface,

e. an inner externally threaded shaft mounted for rotation within said hollow supporting shaft and extending axially thereof,

f. a sleeve-like member carrying one of said rotary slitters and mounted for sliding movement along said hollow supporting shaft,

g. there being an elongated, axially extending slot through one side of said hollow supporting shaft, h. an inwardly projecting member carried by said sleeve-like member extending through said elongated slot between the threads on said inner shaft so that upon relative rotation of said inner shaft and said supporting shaft said sleeve-like member and the rotary slitter carried thereby is moved axially along said supporting shaft,

tween said inner shaft and said supporting shaft,

j. means operatively connecting one of said plates to said sleeve-like member with a sliding rotary fit so that said one v plate moves with said sleeve-like member and the rotary slitter carried thereby,

k. guide means directing a sheet of material in a rectilinear direction parallel to said depending edges and said flat surfaces of said rotary slitters so that said sheet is fed and slit concomitantly by said rotary slitters,

l. a stripper member mounted adjacent said rotary slitters at an elevation to direct said sheet of material therebeneath and away from said rotary slitters so that said sheet of material is separated continuously from said rotary slitters.

. means for imparting relative rotary movement be- 

1. In apparatus for slitting sheet material comprising: a. separate plates each having an upper supporting surface and a depending edge portion extending to an elevation below said supporting surface with said depending edge portion of one said plate being spaced laterally from said depending edge portion of the other said plate, b. a hollow supporting shaft, c. at least two laterally spaced rotary slitters mounted for rotation with said hollow supporting shaft alongside the laterally spaced depending edge portions with each rotary slitter having an annular cutting edge at the periphery thereof defined by a beveled surface tapering toward and intersecting a flat surface which extends at right angles to said supporting surface with the included angle between said beveled surface and said flat surface being approximately 30* , d. each said rotary slitter being supported for rotation with said flat surface spaced from said depending edge a distance ranging from approximately 0.001 inch to 0.005 inch and with the lower portion of said cutting edge at an elevation ranging from approximately one sixty-fourth inch to one-sixteenth inch below said supporting surface, e. an inner externally threaded shaft mounted for rotation within said hollow supporting shaft and extending axially thereof, f. a sleeve-like member carrying one of said rotary slitters and mounted for sliding movement along said hollow supporting shaft, g. there being an elongated, axially extending slot through one side of said hollow supporting shaft, h. an inwardly projecting member carried by said sleeve-like member extending through said elongated slot between the threads on said inner shaft so that upon relative rotation of said inner shaft and said supporting shaft said sleeve-like member and the rotary slitter carried thereby is moved axially along said supporting shaft, i. means for imparting relative rotary movement between said inner shafT and said supporting shaft, j. means operatively connecting one of said plates to said sleeve-like member with a sliding rotary fit so that said one plate moves with said sleeve-like member and the rotary slitter carried thereby, k. guide means directing a sheet of material in a rectilinear direction parallel to said depending edges and said flat surfaces of said rotary slitters so that said sheet is fed and slit concomitantly by said rotary slitters, l. a stripper member mounted adjacent said rotary slitters at an elevation to direct said sheet of material therebeneath and away from said rotary slitters so that said sheet of material is separated continuously from said rotary slitters. 